Epilating device

ABSTRACT

An epilating device ( 1 ) removes hair from a user by pinching, pulling and releasing the hairs. The epilating device ( 1 ) has a tweezer portion ( 20 ) having an axis and being mounted to rotate about its axis during use, the tweezer portion ( 20 ) defining at least one pinching region ( 18 ) at its circumference in which hairs may be grasped by tweezer elements( 22 ). A mounting element supports the axis of the tweezer portion such that the tweezer portion can rotate with respect to the mounting element and a spring element ( 30 ) is arranged to induce a pinching force in the tweezer elements at the pinching region ( 18 ). The pinching force induces pinching of the hairs at the pinching region ( 18 ). A bearing element ( 23 ) is arranged to transmit the pinching force to the rotating tweezer portion ( 20 ) and a drive element is arranged to apply rotational motion to rotate the tweezer portion about its axis with respect to the mounting element. The mounting element ( 20 ), spring element ( 30 ) and bearing element are formed as a single unitary support element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to epilating devices and in particular toan improved epilating head construction having narrow support shoulders.

2. Description of the Related Art

Epilating devices of many different types are known for the purpose ofremoving unwanted hair from various regions of a user's body. Theprinciples of operation vary greatly but amongst these devices, asizeable subgroup operates through the use of rotatingtweezer-mechanisms which seize hairs and actively extract them from theskin/follicle. As the tweezer rotates further it releases the hair. Inthe present context, the term “tweezers” is used to denote anarrangement that is capable of opening and closing to grip and extract ahair or hairs.

One of the earliest devices of this type is the Epilady™ device, whichuses the rotation of a coil spring to capture and release hairs. Anotherdevice is disclosed in EP532106B1. That device uses rotating disks whichare pivotable towards each other under the influence of a compressionmember. The rotating disks form a disk package and are carried by anaxle which rotates between bearings carried by bearing support membersat either end of the disk package. The compression member comprisesroller members located within the bearing support members. The drivemechanism for rotating the disk package is also located in the regionsof the bearing support members, which may be referred to as theshoulders of the device.

Although the known devices may operate adequately in most circumstances,for accessing narrow regions, the width of the shoulders can beinconvenient. It would therefore be desirable to produce an epilatingdevice with relatively narrow shoulders. It would also be desirable toproduce a device requiring fewer parts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided an epilating device forremoving hairs by pinching, pulling and releasing the hairs, theepilating device comprising a tweezer portion having an axis, first andsecond ends, and at least one pair of tweezer elements, the tweezerportion being mounted to rotate about the axis during use and definingat least one pinching region at its circumference in which hairs may bepinched, a drive element, arranged to apply rotational motion to rotatethe tweezer portion about the axis, first and second support elementsfor supporting the tweezer portion at its respective ends such that thetweezer portion can rotate with respect to the support elements and forapplying a pinching force to the pair of pinching elements in thepinching region, to induce pinching of the hairs at the pinching region,wherein at least the first support element comprises a mounting elementfor supporting the first end of the tweezer portion, a spring elementarranged to generate the pinching force, and a bearing element arrangedto transmit the pinching force to the rotating tweezer portion, whereinthe mounting element, spring element and bearing element are integrallyformed as a single unitary support element. By forming the mountingelement, spring element and bearing element as a unitary structure, thedevice may be reduced in size and its fabrication and structuresignificantly simplified. In general, the pinching force will bedirected to act in a direction parallel to the axis. It will beunderstood by the skilled person that this need not be exactly paralleland there need only be a component of the spring force acting in thedirection parallel to the axis, sufficient to generate the requiredpinching force. In this context it may also be noted that for a curvedaxis, the pinching force may be generally parallel to the line joiningthe ends of the axis.

The unitary support element may be formed of any appropriate material,including moulded plastics and composites. In a preferred embodiment,the mounting element comprises a metal plate provided with a locatingstructure for supporting the first end of the tweezer portion. Thelocating structures may be provided by apertures, blind holes, pins orany other suitable structure for locating the tweezer portion accordingto its required mode of operation. These may also be integrally formedfrom the same sheet although additional elements may be added asrequired. Such a support element formed of relatively thin sheet metalcan reduce the overall width of the shoulder regions, leading to a slimdesign that is easy to use in restricted regions. Since the springelement is unitary with the mounting element, the material used shouldbe sufficiently resilient to perform the spring function required by thetweezer portion. In certain embodiments, this may require a spring forceof around 10 N and a movement range of 1 mm or more. The skilled personwill be well aware of the variations required in these values and willbe able to dimension the spring element and support element accordingly.

In one embodiment, the bearing element may comprise a washer, mountedconcentrically with respect to the locating structure, and the springelement comprises a spring arm connecting the washer to the supportelement. The washer may be substantially annular or may be C-shaped,forming only part of a circle. The washer may serve as a bearing surfaceon which a bearing structure on the side of the tweezer element maybear. In one embodiment, the tweezer element may be provided with ballbearings or the like supported by a bearing cage. The ball bearings canbear against the bearing element, which may be provided with a bearingrace if required.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention the drive elementcomprises a gear wheel mounted between the mounting element and thebearing element at the first end of the tweezer portion. The gear wheelmay be mounted to the tweezer portion for rotation therewith and may beengaged by another gear driven from a suitable drive motor. The gearwheel may be smaller in diameter than the bearing element and locatewithin the latter, allowing for a more compact design. Most preferably,the gear wheel bears against the mounting element to guide its rotationand prevent wobbling motion that may be transmitted from the tweezerportion.

According to the particular design and mode of operation, the secondsupport element may be symmetrical to the first support element and maycomprise an integral bearing element, spring element and mountingelement. In this context, symmetrical need not require both supportelements to be identical, merely that both provide the above mentionedstructures in a similar manner.

In an alternative arrangement, the second support element comprises aflat plate having a locating structure for supporting the second end ofthe tweezer portion and having a bearing surface. A single springelement may be sufficient to apply the necessary pinching force andmovement and the resulting structure may allow for a still narrowershoulder on one side. Such a configuration may be applicableparticularly in cases where the drive element is located to engage atonly one side of the tweezer portion.

As indicated above, the principle of operation and constructionaccording to the invention is applicable to all forms of tweezer portionthat require the support and bearing functions as described. These mayinclude devices with both rotating and fixed axles. Preferably, thetweezer portion is carried on a non-rotating shaft supported from thesupport elements. In that case, locating structures to support the shaftmay have a non-circular shape corresponding to the shape of the shaftends.

The invention may also be applicable to devices in which the axis iseither straight or curved. In a preferred embodiment, the axis isslightly curved. This may be achieved by the use of a curved shaft, onwhich the tweezer portion is mounted for rotation.

In a still further preferred embodiment, the tweezer portion comprises aplurality of disks. The disks are preferably rigid, and may be formed ofmetal or ceramic material. Alternatively, a resilient disk structure maybe considered. The disks may be individually rotatable with respect toeach other or may be engaged together for rotation as a single body. Theskilled person is well aware of the various disk structures that may beemployed and the advantages and benefits associated therewith. The firstdisk of the tweezer portion may be integrally formed with a bearingplate. This may be in the form of a bearing race along which ballbearings may roll to provide the bearing function. In that case, theball bearings may be supported by a cage to roll between the bearingelements of the support element and the bearing plates on the tweezerportion.

In a further preferred embodiment, two substantially planar bearingsurfaces are provided at either side of the tweezer portion and theplanar bearing surfaces are angled towards each other at an angle ofbetween 5 degrees and 30 degrees. As the skilled person will understand,this angling of the bearing surfaces leads to the generation of thepinching region, due to the tweezer portion being more compressed as thebearing surfaces approach one another.

In the preferred embodiment of the epilating device a head portion isprovided surrounding the support elements and the tweezer portion, anddefining an access opening to the pinching region. The head portion maybe formed of moulded plastics material or the like and may be otherwiseconventional apart from the fact that the shoulder regions can benarrower than similar devices, due to the improved construction asdescribed above.

The epilating device may further comprise a motor portion, comprising amotor and power supply, operatively arranged to engage and drive thedrive element. The power supply may be a battery or a mains connection.The motor portion may be in the form of a handle for gripping the deviceduring use and may also be formed of plastics material. In a preferredembodiment, the motor portion may be detachable from the head portionfor cleaning purposes, repair or interchangeability.

In one embodiment, the mounting element, the spring element, and thebearing element are integrally formed from a single plate-shaped memberhaving at least one bent portion. In a most preferred embodiment of theinvention, both the first and second support elements are integrallyformed from the single plate-shaped member. The first and second supportelements may be mutually connected by a base plate, which is integrallyformed from the single plate-shaped member and connected to the firstand second support elements by respective bent portions of theplate-shaped member. The epilating device may then comprise a tweezerportion and a U-shaped yoke in which the tweezer portion is mounted forrotation, the yoke being formed from a unitary sheet of metal havingupstanding support elements for supporting an axle of the tweezerportion and at least one integrally-formed, spring-mounted bearingelement for application of an axially directed pinching force to thetweezer portion. The metal yoke may be formed of sheet metal materialhaving sufficient strength to provide the necessary pinching force viathe spring element. Preferably, the yoke may be manufactured by stampingand bending from a single sheet. Although the yoke may be a unitarystructure, it is not excluded that regions of the yoke could undergo aparticular treatment, e.g. heat treatment in order to locally improvetheir properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated uponreference to the following drawings of a number of exemplaryembodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an epilating device according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention in perspective view;

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the epilating device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a yoke for the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a yoke for an epilating deviceaccording to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows the yoke of FIG. 4 assembled to a tweezer portion;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through an epilatingdevice according to a third embodiment of the invention with a rod-basedtweezer system; and

FIG. 7 shows an alternative fourth embodiment of the invention having anenlarged opening between the tweezer portion and yoke.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an epilating device 1 according to afirst embodiment of the invention. The epilating device 1 comprises ahead portion 2 and a motor portion 4, which engage together. The headportion 2 has an access opening 6 in its forward surface providingaccess to a pinching region 18 of a tweezer portion 20, which will bedescribed in further detail below. The opening 6 is delimited on eitherside by shoulders 16. The tweezer portion 20 and the shoulders 16together define the overall width of the epilating device.

The motor portion 4 houses a motor 8 having an output gear 11 and arechargeable power supply 10, which can be charged through a jack 12. Anon-off switch 14 is provided on the front face. The motor portion 4 hasan ergonomic form for use as a handle.

FIG. 2 shows in front elevation a portion of the epilating device 1 withthe head portion 2 removed. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the tweezerportion 20 comprises a plurality of disks 22A-22J mounted together on ashaft 24. On either end of the tweezer portion 20 is mounted a bearingcage 23, carrying ball bearings 25. The first disk 22A and the last disk22J each have a bearing plate 21 against which the ball bearings 25 mayrotate.

The shaft 24 is supported at its ends from mounting elements formed byupstanding legs 26 of a metal frame or yoke 28. In this embodiment, theshaft 24 does not rotate with respect to the yoke 28. This is achievedby a form fit connection between these parts. Integrally formed with theyoke 28 is a pair of spring arms 30 which carry washers 32 at theirends. The washers 32 act as bearing elements to engage with the ballbearings 25 and bear against them due to a force of the spring arms 30.This force presses the disks 22 together with a pinching force P at thepinching region 18. Each of the disks 22 is free to rotate around theaxle 24. Nevertheless, due to their form and to the pinching force P,the disks 22 rotate together as a disk packet. The skilled person willbe aware that this is merely one embodiment and that other alternativemechanisms could be used to similar effect. The first disk 22A isconnected to a drive element in the form of a toothed cog 34 whichextends along the shaft 24 beyond the washer 32 to a position betweenthe washer 32 and the leg 26. In use, the cog 34 is driven from theoutput gear 11 of the motor 10 through a number of intermediate stagegears (not shown). The cog 34 in turn drives the tweezer portion 20 inrotation about the shaft 24. Further details of the operation of thetweezer portion 20 can be found in WO2006/117755A1 the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIG. 3 shows the yoke 28 in perspective view without the tweezer portion20. As can be seen, the yoke 28 is formed of a single plate-shapedmember, e.g. a piece of sheet metal, that has been cut and bent orfolded to form first and second support elements 21, 23 mutuallyconnected by a base plate 29 and respective bent portions 31 of the samesingle plate-shaped member. The spring arms 30 and washers 32 are formedas part of the first and second support elements 21, 23 respectively byfurther folds and cuts. Also visible in this view are locating holes 36which retain the ends of the shaft 24 against axial and rotationalmovement. As a result of the invention, the manufacture of the epilatingdevice is considerably simplified, since the three functions ofsupporting the axle, application of a pinching force and providing abearing may be combined into a single component. Additionally, this isachieved while maintaining a relatively narrow shoulder on either sideof the tweezer portion.

FIG. 4 discloses a yoke 128 according to a second asymmetric embodimentof the invention in perspective view. Similar features to the firstembodiment are denoted by like references preceded by 100. According tothe embodiment of FIG. 4, the yoke 128 is provided with a washer 132 andspring arm 130 at one side only. At the other side of the yoke 128, theupstanding leg 126 is generally flat and provided with a locating hole136 for receiving the shaft of a tweezer portion. In this embodiment,the upstanding leg 126 should have sufficient strength to provide thespring force P but the resilience or movement may primarily be providedfrom one side by the spring arm 130. The portion of the leg 126 aroundthe locating hole 136 serves as a bearing surface in the same manner asthe washer 132.

FIG. 5 shows in perspective view an epilating device 101 according tothe second embodiment of the invention with the yoke 128 supporting atweezer portion 120. The tweezer portion 120 is otherwise identical tothat of the first embodiment of FIG. 2 and is not described furtherhere. As can be seen, the cog 134 is located at the side of the yoke 128corresponding to the washer 132 and spring arm 130. At the other end ofthe tweezer portion 120, the pinching force P is provided directly bythe upstanding arm 126 at a position corresponding to the pinchingregion at which hairs will be gripped during use. The overall width ofthe shoulder construction is thus narrower still than in the firstembodiment

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view through an epilatingdevice 201 according to a third embodiment of the invention whichoperates with a rod-based tweezer system. In this embodiment, similarfeatures to the first and second embodiments are denoted by the samereference numerals preceded by 200.

According to FIG. 6, a yoke 228 supports a tweezer portion 220. The yoke228 is asymmetric and otherwise identical to that of the secondembodiment of FIG. 4, comprising a washer 232 and spring arm 230 at oneside only. At the other side of the yoke 228, the upstanding leg 226 isgenerally flat and provided with a locating hole 236 for receiving ashaft 224 of the tweezer portion 220. The washer 232 and upstanding leg226 are angled with respect to each other towards a pinching region 218.

In this embodiment, the tweezer portion 220 comprises an inner body 240and an outer body 242 arranged to rotate together about the shaft 224under the action of a cog 234. Actuating rods 244 extend throughchannels 246 within the inner body 240 and have cam surfaces 248 attheir outermost extremities. Return springs 250 within the channels 246bias the rods outwards such that the cam surfaces engage with washers232 and upstanding leg 226 respectively. The outer body 242 is formed inthree sections 242 A, B, C. The skilled person will recognize thatfurther sections may also be provided. Sections 242A and 242C comprisefixed tweezer elements 252 at their outer circumference. Pivotabletweezer elements 254 are held between adjacent sections 242 A,B,C andare engageable with the fixed tweezer elements 252. The pivotabletweezer elements 254 have inner ends 256 which engage with notches 258formed in the rods 244.

The tweezer portion 220 according to the embodiment of FIG. 6 isgenerally as described in EP 2008543 A1, and may operate as describedtherein. The contents of that disclosure are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. Accordingly, during operation of theepilating device 201, the cog 234 causes rotation of the inner body 240about the shaft 224. As the inner body 240 rotates, the cam surfaces 248are biased inwards as they approach the pinching region 218. This biascauses inwards displacement of the actuating rods 244, which movement istransferred to the pivotable tweezer elements 254 by engagement of theinner ends 256 with notches 258. The pivotable tweezer elements 254 thusengage with the fixed tweezer elements 252 to pinch hairs and, as thetweezer portion 220 rotates further, to pull them out.

FIG. 7 shows in front elevation a portion of an epilating deviceaccording to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The embodiment ofFIG. 7 corresponds generally to that of FIG. 2, and like elements aregiven like references preceded by 300. As in the first embodiment, thetweezer portion 320 is mounted by shaft 324 from upstanding legs 326 ofmetal frame or yoke 328. In this embodiment, an enlarged space oropening is provided between the yoke 328 and the tweezer portion 320.This opening may be advantageous in allowing better access to thetweezer portion and improved cleaning.

Thus, the invention has been described by reference to certainembodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that theseembodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternativeforms well known to those of skill in the art. In particular, theconstruction of the tweezer portion may be distinct from theschematically illustrated design.

Many modifications in addition to those described above may be made tothe structures and techniques described herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specificembodiments have been described, these are examples only and are notlimiting upon the scope of the invention.

1. An epilating device for removing hairs from skin by pinching, pullingand releasing the hairs, comprising: a tweezer portion having an axis,first and second ends, and at least one pair of tweezer elements, thetweezer portion being mounted to rotate about the axis during use anddefining at least one pinching region at its circumference in whichhairs may be pinched; a drive element, arranged to apply rotationalmotion to rotate the tweezer portion about the axis; first and secondsupport elements for supporting the tweezer portion at its respectiveends such that the tweezer portion can rotate with respect to thesupport elements and for applying a pinching force to the pair oftweezer elements in the pinching region, to induce pinching of the hairsat the pinching region, wherein at least the first support elementcomprises: a mounting element, for supporting the first end of thetweezer portion, wherein the mounting element comprises a metal plateprovided with a locating structure for supporting the first end of thetweezer portion; a spring element, arranged to generate the pinchingforce; and a bearing element, arranged to transmit the pinching force tothe rotating tweezer portion; wherein the mounting element, springelement and bearing element are integrally formed as a single unitarysupport element from a single plate-shaped member having at least onebent portion.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The device according to claim 1, whereinthe bearing element comprises a washer, mounted concentrically withrespect to the locating structure, and the spring element comprises anarm connecting the washer to the mounting element.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the drive element comprises a gear wheelmounted between the mounting element and the bearing element at thefirst end of the tweezer portion.
 5. The device according to claim 1,wherein the second support element is symmetrical to the first supportelement and comprises an integral bearing element, spring element andmounting element.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the secondsupport element comprises a flat plate having a locating structure forsupporting the second end of the tweezer portion and having a bearingsurface.
 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tweezer portionis carried on a non-rotating shaft supported from the support elements.8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the axis is curved.
 9. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the tweezer portion comprises aplurality of disks with tweezer elements formed between adjacent disks.10. The device according to claim 9, wherein a first disk of the tweezerportion is provided with a bearing plate.
 11. The device according toclaim 1, comprising substantially planar bearing surfaces at either sideof the tweezer portion and the planar bearing surfaces are angledtowards each other at an angle of between 5 degrees and 30 degrees. 12.The device according to claim 1, further comprising a head portionsurrounding the support elements and tweezer portion and defining anaccess opening to the pinching region.
 13. (canceled)
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the second support element is integrallyformed from the single plate-shaped member.
 15. The device according toclaim 14, wherein the first and second support elements_(—) are mutuallyconnected by a base plate, which is integrally formed from the singleplate-shaped member and connected to the first and second supportelements by respective bent portions of the plate-shaped member. 16.(canceled)